L.A. Beat

Lethbridge libraries will be “playing all day for literacy” during Family Literacy Day, Jan. 27, and with two of them operating, the day will be twice as much fun.

“Literacy is more than just about reading books,” observed Crossings Branch teen-brarian Paige McGeorge, adding  there are a variety of Literacy Day activities scheduled for both branches.

“We’ll be playing for literacy, so we will be having a variety of play related activities both here and downtown,” said McGeorge, outlining an array of  play themed activities to happen all day long , Jan. 27.

“Here, we’ll be starting with story-time at 10 a.m.,” she said adding something special will follow after the opening ceremonies at noon— a celebrity dictionary race.
“We’ll be pitting local celebrities against each other in a dictionary race, where the first person to find a word and a definition in the dictionary wins,” she continued.

“But it will be separate from the spelling bee,” she continued adding the afternoon will be dominated by a preschool literacy carnival.
“It will have a lot of activities for the kids like story corners, colouring, a beanbag toss and activities like pin the tail on your favourite storybook characters,” she continued adding there will be games throughout the day as well, both board games as well as video games.

“We’ll be having Wii on the big screen, which is something we usually only do with teenagers, but everyone will be able to do it (during Literacy Day),” McGeorge continued adding that takes place at 7 p.m. after a screening of the roller derby themed film “Whip It,” which is directed by Drew Barrymore and stars Ellen Page, at 4 p.m.

 

“All of the activities are related to literacy in some way. You have to read and understand rules for board games,” McGeorge continued adding it is important to instill a love for literacy at an early age as it will affect the rest of their lives.
“Literacy develops at an early age, it’s not only in school,  there are elements of lifelong learning,” she continued adding  Literacy Day also is a great opportunity to show off both branches, especially the Crossings branch.

“It’s very busy here especially with two high schools on either side of us. During lunch hour we have 700 students come in and lots of families. So people are finding out about us,” she continued.

“We’re starting to get the word out, especially on the west side, that we’re here. And everything is new — the books and the equipment. Everything is shiny and new,” she said.
“Literacy day is another way to  promote the libraries and show off what we  offer to the community,” McGeorge continued adding there will be a slate of similar activities happening at the downtown library, beginning at 10 a.m. with story-time.
 A Scrabble tournament will follow at noon.

 After that there will be a scavenger hunt in the library at 2 p.m. followed by Wii on the big screen at 4 p.m.
 Concluding events at the main branch will be Schubertiade, a  piano concert featuring the music of Franz Schubert, performed by University of Lethbridge faculty and students which begins at 8 p.m.
All of the Literacy Day events are free of charge and  open to people of all ages.